The Republican journal., 1887-01-20
Letter from Portsmouth, N. q.

\ CORRESPONDENT VISITS A BIG BREWERS
AND SAMPLES TIE PRODUCT.
correspondence of the Journal.
PORTSMOUTH, y. H.. JAM. 1SS.. ! propose
to give your readers a few items on the ale and
beer manufactured at this place. While on MY
way home froma stroll from the West End a day
or two since .iil attention was attracted by the
heroic figure of Gambrinus projecting from
the front Of the El,lredge Brewing CompalN'>
handsome brick building at ''the Creek Obey
Ing sudden impulse | entered the premises.
'ano. asking the privilege of an inspection. was
courttou>iN taken in charge by Mr.. john
Newick. whose practical skill and long expert
enre has given to the El'lredge Brewing Co.'S
productions such an enN liable and widespread
reputation. After noting the facility with
Which grain is received al the doors of the
tahli>hmcnt. from the cars of the Boston and
Maine Il. r.. and disposed of by steam ee>a-
tors, attention was given to the process OF
manufacturing it into a beverage. The best
quality OF barley is obtained. stepped. and
spread upon clean floors. where it remains UNI
til il i> >prouted: its growth is then arrested by
drying in a kiln. the operation converting
portion Of the grain into sugar. Ii is then
cleaned and ground. This is malt. 1t is
next put into the ma>h-tub> with water: after
lying Il certain period il is run of into the boil
iny-tub. where hops are added. This mixture
cor'lin" to certain conditions. are necessary for
the preparation of the wort. From the boil
ing-tub the liquor is run off into VAT called IL
"hoI-ack. where the hops are strained of:
from thence II Is pumped into il huge open vat,
known as the ">urface-cooler: then. for the
purpose of further cooling, the 'wort'' is pass
ed over the ''refri%erator. an immense coil of
Furnished copper pipes. through which lee WA
ter Is constantly passing. From this point il
finds lis way into the cc-hou>e. where it re-
ia AZ
tation.
The beer is then transferred to strong casks.
from thence into the rackng casks or pun
chcon>. and hunged up until finally rarked of
in casks of different sizes. to meet the demands
of purchasers.
Up to Il certain point the process of brewing
is the same for both ale and lager. The latter
requires lower temperature: and the storage
house containing it is kept at 4S deg. Fahrenheit,
the year round. The lager beer vault is Il
lofty building. the upper half of which is Il
huge ire-hou>c. holding some 200 tons of ice.
The apartment Immediately below is the fer
| mcnting-room. the next below is the storage
| room. and the next, which is underground is
the rackinT-rooin, where the lager is run Oft
INTO casks for transportation.
Ale is not brought TO 50 low a temperature.
and requires onl about six day for fcrnenta-
1ion for present USE ale; it is also run to the
tun> from the refrigerator at higher degree
than lager. 1t may be accepted AS an undis-
I"', t"'h, tha. oi'Nhiou'h atS anu pteI>
are absolutely above suspicion of impurity or
Improper or deleterou> a,lmiXture. We're not
personal regulations at stake. the two great
bfcweries Ill portsmouth act as check, each
upon the other; and any. departure from
| straight manufacture could not fail of di>clo>-
urc TO the lhllhlte damage and dscredlt OF the
offending party.
\ necessary factor III the production of good
beer Is pure water; the water supplied by the
famous portsmouth Aqucduct Co. is almost
chtmlcaily pure. and Is employed in the manu-
laHture OF portsmouth ales.
Ihe hou>eWifeiy cleanliness perNading the
entire establishment of the El'lredge Brewing
GO. promotes an inward satisfaction to the vl>-
tor who traces its brewing in its various stages
| untll Il caSk Is tapped for his especial delerta-
| tioh: ana after the creamy foam is allowed to
rest few moments 9limner of pellucid am
| Der light begins at the bottom of the glass and
gradually takes the place of the satin-like foam,
| while neither atom nor mote appears to dispute